Article

Sir George Halsey Perley

Published Online February 13, 2008

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Sir George Halsey Perley, politician (b at Lebanon, NH 12 Sept 1857; d at Ottawa 4 Jan 1938). After a Harvard education, Perley spent the early part of his working life carrying on his father's business in the Ottawa lumber trade.

Perley, Sir George Halsey

Sir George Halsey Perley, politician (b at Lebanon, NH 12 Sept 1857; d at Ottawa 4 Jan 1938). After a Harvard education, Perley spent the early part of his working life carrying on his father's business in the Ottawa lumber trade. Entering Parliament, the wealthy and socially ambitious Perley represented Argenteuil, 1904-17 and 1925-38, and served as a Cabinet minister under PMs Borden, Meighen and Bennett. He was especially influential under Borden, who appointed him high commissioner in London, 1914-22, and minister of the overseas military forces of Canada, 1916-17. Here Perley consistently shielded the Canadian Corps from the partisan personnel policies which had been standard under former defence minister Sam HUGHES.